CHAMBERSBURG - A Florida man charged after a spat over a pool game resulted in him hitting a bystander in the face with a billiards ball last fall has been found not guilty of aggravated assault, but guilty of the less severe charge of simple assault.

During testimony Monday, Esau Scott admitted to starting a fight at a Chambersburg bar in November that left himself and others injured. But he argued that he was not guilty of the charges against him because the billiard ball he threw hit a bystander, not his intended target, and his action was done in self defense.

Scott, 41, Fort Pierce, Florida, was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and disorderly conduct. During the trial, Scott's attorney, Ian Brink, told the jury they were conceding to the disorderly conduct charge. They jury deliberated for about an hour on the aggravated assault and simple assault charges, ultimately finding Scott guilty of simple assault.

The woman who was hit testified that for several months after the injury she had vision problems, and had pain in her eye up until a couple of weeks ago. The ball caused the woman's skull to fracture. In photos shown in court, the woman's skull was visible through the cut, surrounded by intense swelling.

The fight began when Scott attempted to play a game of pool. Scott paid for the game, then was told by another bar patron that if he wanted to play, he would have to play him first. A bartender from the bar, Jack and Dara's, 464 Hollywell Avenue, testified that the other man was a regular and it was an unspoken rule that anyone who played pool went through this regular they only referred to as "Toby."

Scott became angry that he couldn't play, as he had already paid for the game, and threw the first punch. Surveillance video of the fight shown to the jurors included Scott, Toby, and another man never identified through the investigation or court process, all fighting. There were several others seen trying to stop the fight and as well as defending Scott.

Things then calmed down. A woman was standing near Toby when, according to police, Scott picked up a billiard ball and threw it in Toby's direction. It hit the woman instead, however, and she fell to the ground.

Scott initially said he was not in fear for his life when he thew the ball, but later changed that view and said he had been afraid, at least of being hit again. Scott said he was angry at the time because of the issue with the game and because he had been injured.

"It just seemed like so much was happening," Scott said.

Brink, Scott's attorney, argued that Scott used appropriate force for what he believed was happening to him. And because the woman was not the intended target, Scott was not liable for the aggravated assault charge.

Scott has been held in Franklin County Jail on $100,000 bail since his arrest on Nov. 6. He remains in custody pending sentencing.